Chapter 22

"Lin Lao, what is this new Censor thinking? He didn't order us to lower grain prices, but instead raised them to one hundred and fifty wen per dou. Could there be a problem with this?"

Outside the County Yamen.

The head of the Qian family could not help but say.

Lin Lao gave a cold snort. "I've lived for half a lifetime and have seen every kind of situation, but I've never seen grain prices soar and then fall back down!"

"Regardless of what this Censor Gao is thinking, it has nothing to do with us. Right now, seizing this great opportunity to make a big profit is what matters."

"Such a rare opportunity—if we seize it, the family will have no worries for a hundred years. And no matter how chaotic Jiangcheng becomes, it has nothing to do with us, because we are following the County Yamen's intentions!"

"A heaven-sent fortune is right before our eyes. If you are still hesitant, you are truly foolish!"

Once these words were spoken, the head of the Qian family quickly apologized. "Lin Lao, calm your anger. It's just that I've lived for half a lifetime and have never seen such a good thing, so I was a bit worried."

"But according to what Lin Lao says, this is truly a heaven-sent fortune."

"My Qian family follows Lin Lao's lead!"

The heads of the Zhao and Han families also said one after another, "The four major families of Jiangcheng have always acted in unison. Whatever Lin Lao wants to do next, we will follow."

Hearing the words of the few, Lin Lao looked at the pedestrians on the streets of Jiangcheng with his deep gaze, his murky old eyes bursting with endless greed.

"Before the County Yamen's notice is posted, quickly sweep up all the grain on the Jiangcheng market at the price of one hundred wen per dou!"

"Then sit and wait for grain prices to soar. Once the County Yamen's notice is out, grain prices will definitely not be just one hundred and fifty wen per dou. In chaotic times, grain prices have no ceiling. If the commoners can't survive, they will smash their pots and sell their iron to buy it no matter how high the price is!"

Lin Lao's voice carried a chill.

Let alone one hundred and fifty wen per dou, even if it broke through one hundred wen per dou, Jiangcheng would be filled with starving people, and thousands upon thousands of commoners would starve to death!

Not to mention one hundred and fifty wen per dou or even higher; in just ten days or half a month, it would be a true living hell.

But whether it was Lin Lao or the other three major grain merchants, they were all expressionless, their eyes filled only with greed!

What did the lives of the commoners have to do with them?

In such chaotic times, for them, seizing the opportunity to make a fortune from the national disaster was the true path!

In Jiangcheng, grain prices were about to see an unbelievable surge!

"..."

Inside the County Yamen.

Du Jiang looked at Gao Yang in disbelief. "Censor Gao, are you really going to post the notice that grain prices must not be lower than 150 per dou all over Jiangcheng?"

Du Jiang was full of anger; he felt that Gao Yang must be crazy.

Saying it to the four major grain merchants was one thing, but he actually wanted to post a public notice and put it all over Jiangcheng.

Once the notice was out, there would be no room for turning back!

Even with this notice, the Jiangcheng County Yamen would become the target of public criticism, and the commoners' angry spit could drown them!

Furthermore, wasn't their goal to lower grain prices?

Why did Gao Yang want to raise grain prices, and to a sky-high price at that!

After a long while, Gao Yang slowly looked at Du Jiang. "Magistrate Du, do as I say."

"The rest is not for you to ask."

Gao Yang's gaze was indifferent.

Du Jiang trembled all over, his eyes fixed on Gao Yang. He felt a stabbing pain in his heart. The Empress had a lifetime of fame, but why had she sent such a boastful person here?

Did he know what a concept a grain price of one hundred and fifty wen per dou was?

"Why don't they eat meat porridge!"

This was exactly "Why don't they eat meat porridge!"

Only this phrase remained in Du Jiang's mind. How could the child of a big shot born with a silver spoon in his mouth in Changancheng know the suffering of ordinary commoners?

This was a disaster for Jiangcheng, and even more so a disaster for countless commoners!

But Du Jiang still wanted to try his best, because he was the parent-official of the hundreds of thousands of commoners in Jiangcheng; he had to be worthy of the official cap on his head!

He asked word by word, "My Lord, do you know the consequences of doing this?"

"Once the notice is out, within ten days or half a month, Jiangcheng will surely be a living hell. Countless commoners will starve to death, and it is not impossible that families will be torn apart or even trade children to eat!"

Du Jiang gritted his teeth and knelt on one knee. "Your subordinate has been alive for over thirty-six years and has a backbone; I have never begged anyone. But today, your subordinate begs you to withdraw the order. Once grain prices reach one hundred and fifty wen per dou, except for the merchants, ordinary commoners cannot possibly afford it!"

Gao Yang looked at Du Jiang, his eyes without the slightest fluctuation.

He knew that this Du Jiang was a parent-official who cared wholeheartedly for the people, and after returning to the capital, he would also memorialize to promote Du Jiang.

But if Jiangcheng wanted to lower grain prices, it had to be done according to what he said.

The County Yamen had ears on the walls; without absolute certainty, his intentions must not be spoken!

He could only give Du Jiang a hint. "Magistrate Du, if you want to lower grain prices, you don't necessarily have to desperately suppress them. You must know that the harder a spring is suppressed, the more terrifying the rebound!"

"After seven days, everything will be fine!"

"I am not joking with my life."

After speaking, Gao Yang walked straight out of the County Yamen.

Having eaten and drunk his fill, he still had proper business to attend to.

In the current Da Qian, it was not just Jiangcheng that was hit by torrential rain; all sixteen cities of Guangyang Prefecture had suffered a great disaster.

It was just that the disaster in Jiangcheng was the most severe.

Pulling one hair affects the whole body; it was destined that countless commoners would be displaced.

Lowering grain prices was only one part of it.

Right now, letting the commoners survive the great disaster, and even earn money, was the most important thing!

What should he do?

Gao Yang stood at the entrance of the inner courtyard of the Yamen, looked outside, and fell into thought.

Behind him, Du Jiang was trembling with anger.

He could not understand!

He, Du Jiang, had governed for twelve years and had seen too many methods, but he had never heard of a method where raising grain prices could lower them!

This was just an arrogant madman who knew nothing.

He would surely pay a heavy price!

Before Du Jiang could recover, he heard Gao Yang's voice.

"Magistrate Du, take me around to have a look. I see this Yamen is in disrepair; in a few days, when grain prices fall, it can be renovated."

Upon hearing this, Du Jiang's expression changed drastically.

The commoners were already unable to survive, and this Gao Yang actually wanted to renovate the Yamen on a large scale?

How was this any different from fleecing the commoners?

But before he could speak, Gao Yang had already taken Lv Luo and walked out of the Yamen.

"Lord Shangguan, do you really want to sit idly by while the people of Jiangcheng live in misery?" Du Jiang placed his last hope on Shangguan Wan'er.

Shangguan Wan'er was a favorite by the Empress's side; as long as Shangguan Wan'er took action, all this could still be stopped!

Shangguan Wan'er watched the direction Gao Yang left in, her beautiful face showing conflict.

If it were anyone else, she, Shangguan Wan'er, would definitely stop them.

But it just so happened that this person was Gao Yang, and his "monkey-playing game" in the Jin Luandian did not follow common sense at all.

Was Gao Yang a playboy?

From the past, Gao Yang, the grandson of the Duke of the State, was not only a playboy but also a complete jerk.

But his performance was definitely not that of a fool.

He should be very clear about the awkward situation the Duke of the State was facing.

A firm look flashed across Shangguan Wan'er's beautiful face. "Her Majesty the Empress has ordered that all affairs in Jiangcheng, large and small, are to be handled by Young Master Gao!"

"But if the situation is urgent and uncontrollable, I will take action to stop it!"

After speaking, Shangguan Wan'er also strode away.

Hearing these words, Du Jiang said with a heavy heart, "I fear it will be too late by then!"

"This matter must be reported to Her Majesty as quickly as possible. If he is allowed to continue acting recklessly, the hundreds of thousands of commoners in Jiangcheng will be finished!"

Du Jiang's eyes were firm as he shouted outside, "Get my pen and ink! I am going to memorialize overnight, an eight-hundred-li urgent impeachment of this fellow!" ===== CHAPTER 24 =====